Dental tape holder for power driven tooth cleaning devices



United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1937Bluhmmm [72] William A. Waters Inventor 3648 E. 49th St., Tulsa,Oklahoma 74135 756,520

A continuatlon-ln-part of Ser. No. 581,235. 2,742,047 4/1956 Ness g n?gfizg 3,289,681 12/1966 Chambers ae an. 1 [22] Filed Aug.30,l9683,340,881 9/1967 cowanmmu... [45] Patented Oct 20 970 PrimaryExaminer-Robert Peshock Assistant Examiner-Gregory E. McNeillAtlorney-Head and Johnson [54] DENTAL TAPE HOLDER FOR POWER DRIVEN TOOTHCLEANING DEVICES 13 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

ABSTRACT: A self-contained dental tape holder and supply unit isprovided to be attached to standard power driven teeth cleaning devices.

20 mm 25 31 C [51] Int. [50] Field Patented 0a. 20, 1970 Sheet 1 of 2l/VVE/VTOR. WILLIAM A. WATERS FIG.

WM #Mwan ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 20, 1970 3,534,745

Sheet 8 or 2 FIG. 6

llVl/E/VTOR. WILLIAM A. WATERS Veda! fJoflndan/ ATTORNEYS DENTAL TAPEHOLDER FOR POWER DRIVEN TOOTH CLEANING DEVICES CROSS REFERENCES TORELATED APPLICATIONS This is a continuation in part of copending US.Pat. No. application Ser. No. 581,235, filed September 22, 1966, nowU.S. Pat. No. 3, 421, 524, issued January 14, 1969.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The invention relates to power driven teethcleaning devices. In recent years, so-ealled electric toothbrushes havebecome increasingly popular for cleaning the teeth. The advantage whichthese devices have over hand brushing of the teeth lies in the abilityof these power-drive appliances to provide a high speed brushing action.However, even the high speed brushing action does not provide completedental hygiene in those areas between the teeth in which the particlesbecome wedged or retained. These areas between the teeth are bestcleaned by utilizing dental floss or tape. Usually, this is supplied onsmall spools from which the user unrolls a short length which hestretches between his two hands and uses by placing the thumb andforefinger of one hand holding one por tion of the floss inside themouth. This is a cumbersome and unsanitary operation, and eventuallydevices were designed which stretch the floss tautly between twoextending finger components. These devices, however, were cumbersome inshape and simply provided the same type of cleaning motion usuallyprovided by a strand of dental floss held between two hands.

SUMMARY This invention accordingly provides an improvement over theprior art devices and said copending application and teaches a unitized,self-contained dental tape attachment, the attachment being readilyconnectable to a typical power handie of the type that will hold atoothbrush attachment. The attachment of this invention comprises spacedprongs of substantially U-shaped to accommodate tooth depth and whichretains dental tape thereacross, a tape supply reel and a takeup reelincorporated so as to retain the tape relatively taut in the spacedprongs and which upon using all the tape may be disposed of or rechargedwith new tape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a partial side elevational view of the upper tape holdingprong unit.

H0. 3 is a partial sectional view of the tape supply and takeupmechanism.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken along the line M of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of an alternate embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 3-8 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Broadly speaking, the inventioncomprises a power unit which is adapted to receive a tooth cleaningdental tape attachment replacing the typical toothbrush attachmentnormally used with the power unit. The attachment includes an elongatedshaft having a pair of prongs extending in a plane which is at an angle,preferably within the range of from 5 to 10 and typically about 8 andunitized therewith a dental tape supply reel and takeup reel member allof which are integral as a unit. When the tape is exhausted the unit maybe discarded or resupplied. As explained in the aforesaid copendingapplication, it is believed the effectiveness of this invention is thatsince the power unit rotates the shaft in a small arc, and since thedental tape is held securely by the cooperation of the retention membersdescribed and partly because of the flexibility of the prongs, thedental tape moves in a manner to describe a FIG. similar to the surfaceof two cones joined at the apices as described in said prior copendingapplication. It is believed this conical movement, which is definedherein as radially oscillatorily, pulls the dental tape around the toothsurface to cover more area than would be possible if the movement of thetape were simply a reciprocating or back and forth motion as with ausual electric driven toothbrush.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the power driven dental cleanerof this invention comprises a power unit, generally designated by thenumeral 10. The power may be directly attached to an electric supplysource or supplied by rechargeable or conventional batteries, although aspringwound motor is conceivable. As shown herein, the apparatus of thisinvention replaced the toothbrush attachment and is designated hereingenerally by the numeral 12, although an integral power and dental tapeunit as defined herein is contemplated. The inner engagement with thepower unit handle lit) will depend upon the manufacturer but generallyincludes a type as shown in the prior copending application. Hence, theapparatus of this invention l2 may be interchangeable with aconventional toothbrush attachment so that the same power drive unit mayoperate both attachments. Generally the unit I2 comprising theimprovement of this invention includes a lower stern portion M whichincludes the aforesaid attachment portion 213 and prong members 20. Theprong members 2t) extend from the upper shaft portion R8 at a smallangle, preferably about 8 as is best shown in the partial side view ofFIG. 2. The prongs may include openings as shown in the prior copendingapplication or slots 22 and 24 into which the tape 26 is positioned. Theintermediate body portion E6 is an enlarged continuation of the stem andincludes a hinged door portion Ell) which may include a plurality ofsmall air openings 32 for cleaning or sterilization purposes as may bedesired. The cover portion 30 is hinged at 34 and 36, as best shown inFIG. 3, and includes a snap locking arrangement on the opposite sides32% and ill, similar to the manner in which small plastic boxes areretained together. The intermediate portion includes space 42 withinwhich a supply spool M and a takeup spool Mi are rotatably supported atbearing openings 48 and Eli Supply spool M is independently rotatable asfor example about a supporting shaft 52 which is formed as a part of thetalteup reel an. Outwardly of the takeup spool is a hand knob portion 55 which includes an offsetting cam portion 56 which is used to snap openthe cover when it is desired to reel additional dental tape. interiorlyand rearwardly shown is a backup member so which is grooved toaccommodate and frictionally engage side peripheries of the supply spool44 and talreup spool As shown in FIG. 4, cover 39 includes a similarlyplaced braltelike member 62 which engages the supply and talreup spoolssimilarly and acts as a brake to prevent any rota tion or movementthereof when the device is in operation. Tape clamping recesses ho and68 are provided in the intermediate body portion 16 to provideadditional wedging of tape 26 therein by matching detent 70 of cover 30,as shown in FIG. l and thus prevent any movement and maintain the linetaut about the prongs.

In operation the attachment 112 of this invention ordinarily is suppliedas a package adaptable for use in conjunction with a power unit Ill. Theattachment is connected to the power unit and will generally includedental tape 26 being threaded from the space 42 about supply reel 44,across recess 66, thence upwards as shown by the arrow in FIG. ll intoor through prong opening or slot 22, thereacross, thence into or throughopening or slot 2d and downward across recess 68 to the takeup reel 46.Thereafter closure or cover Stl which is hinged at 34 and 36 is snappedshut wherein detent means such as '70 shown in FIG. 4 engages within itsmating recess 68, likewise with recess no, not shown, wherein the dentaltape 26 is drawn and maintained in a taut condition. Simultaneously withthe closure thereof a braking action occurs by the interengagement ofmembers Ml and 62 against both the supply and takeup reels 44 and 46 asshown. As such, when the device is turned on the dental tape and theintermediate supply and takeup reel portions will remain relativelyaffixed undistrubed by the motion. The device is then inserted such thatprongs 20 straddle the line of teeth permitting the taut dental tape tobe inserted between the teeth and assist in the cleaning thereof. Whenit is desired to replace the dental tape across the prongs with cleantape, knob 54 is rotated and, since it includes a cam portion 56, lid 30is opened by the movement simultaneously therewith. This releases thetape to permit unreeling and takeup. Thereafter the opening is closed bysnapping lid 30 into place.

Although the supply and takeup reels are shown in FIG. 3 and describedherein as dual reels, rotatably independent. it is to be understood thatthey could be formed of a single unit. In addition. it is conceivablethat in lieu of a takeup reel means may be provided for taking up asufficient amount of new dental tape when desired and thereafter cuttingand removing the used portion for removal from the system. This is bestshown in the embodiment of FIGS. 6-8. Intermediate body portion 72includes an opening therein to receive a dental tape supply reel 74 towhich dental tape 26 is wound. The reel is independently rotatably uponshaft 76 which may include a winding knob portion 78. An opening 73 inthe body portion 72 is a guide through which tape 26 is threaded intothe takeup mechanism hereafter described. Integral with the shaft is aspur gear 80 which is adapted to mesh with pinion 82 and through whichtape 26 will be retained and will traverse when turned. Hinge means 84and 86 are adapted to receive a cover 100 which is locked to the body 72by interconnecting projections 89 and 91 into receptacles 88 and 90respectively. The cover includes an edge surface over a cam surface 92of shaft 76 wherein rotation of the shaft 76 will open the cover 100.Also included is a recess 94 similar to that previously described withinwhich a detent portion of the lid will mate and clamp the dental tape 26in a taut condition. Upon realignment of the cam the lid is closed andthe device is ready for operation again. Surplus dental tape is taken upby the gear and rack system and may include means such as a cutoff edge98 as best shown in FIG. 7, the latter view including a cover 100 overthe supply reel space, leaving the takeup mechanism open for washing orcleansing.

Iclaim:

I. A dental tape tooth cleaning attachment comprising:

a shaft portion, one end of which includes means for attachment to apower unit of the type adapted to move said attachment radiallyoscillatorily, prong members at the other end of substantially'U-shapeto accommodate tooth depth, said prong members having means receivingdental tape thereacross;

an intermediate unit integral with said shaft including means to supplya substantially continuous length of said dental tape to said prong;

means to take up said dental tape from said prong members;

and

means to retain said dental tape in a substantially taut condition whenthreaded across said prongs.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said prong members are canted at anacute angle to said shaft portion.

3. Apparatus of claim 2 wherein said angle is about8.

4. Apparatus of claim I wherein said means to supply said dental tapeincludes independently rotatably supply spool and takeup spool and meansto rotate said takeup spool.

5. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means to retain said dental tape insaid taut condition includes a cover for said intermediate unit havingmeans for braking said takeup and supply means and to clamp said tapewhen closed.

6. Apparatus of claim 5 including means to simultaneously rotate saidreels and open said cover.

7. Apparatus of claim 4 wherein said takeup spool comprises a spur andpinion gear between the teeth of which said tape will be retained andtraverse upon rotation thereof.

8. Apparatus of claim 7 wherein said unit includes a tape cuttin meansdownstream of said gear and pinion.

9. pparatus of claim 4 mcludmg a cover for said supply spool.

10. Apparatus of claim 9 wherein said takeup spool comprises a spur andpinion gear between the teeth of which said tape will be retained andtraverse upon rotation thereof.

11. Apparatus of claim 10 wherein said unit includes a tape cuttingmeans downstream of said gear and pinion.

12. Apparatus of claim 10 including means to simultaneously rotate saidgears and open said cover.

13. Apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means to retain said dental tapein a taut condition is incorporated in said cover including meanstherewith to engage and brake said supply spool and said takeupmechanism and clamp said tape to said intermediate unit when closed.

